Stbaw-ctttter



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COTTON FOSS, OF PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

STRAIN-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,333, dated July 15, 1856.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, COTTON Foss, o-f Painesville, in the county of Lake and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Straw-Cutters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a -full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved straw-cutter, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same, the letters of reference thereon applying to similar parts in both gures.

The nat-ure of my invention consists in att-aching to the handle of the cutting blade an arm in which is a friction roller, the said roller is made to travel up and down an inclined track which is secured to the front of theA machine, by which means a. drawing out is given to the blade and the operation of cutting t-he feed performed with less labor.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my said invent-ion I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A A are the sills of the frame; B, a crosstie, and C C C C four standards one of which stands behind C and is not shown.

D is one of a pair of side rails, (the other not seen) secured by the cross-tie E.

F is another cross-tie securing the end standards.

Gr (Fig. l) is thel cutting table, and H the cutting trough which rests on the crosstiesv E and F, and which is also secured to the standards O.

I is one of a pair of blocks which are fastened to, and rest on, the side rails D.

J and J is a pair of toothed feed rollersthe lower one J has its bearings in the blocks I, and the other is supported on the ends of a pair of long springs K, (only one of which is seen) which are fastened to the sides of the cutting trough.

L and L are two rollers, L being sus tained on a pair of sliding arms M, and the other in the blocks I. The said rollers are for the purpose of carrying the endless apron N. On the axis of the lower feed roller, J, and on the left side of the front of the machine, is placed a ratchet wheel P.

O and Q are two pawls. Q, is secured to the standard C and O to a long vibratingv lever R. The said lever is pivoted to the upper part `of the standard O, its other end I projecting over the upper part of the cutter hereinafter mentioned.

S is a smoothing or compressing board.

T and T are two other standards. These, as well as the standards C and O, are secured by the top rail U.

V is the cutter above referred to, and W the blade to which it is fastened by screws or otherwise. The farther end of the said cutter is attached to a vibrating arm X pivoted to the standard T and is secured in its place by the guide Y.

Z is another vibraing arm placed between the standards T and C. 'a is a rocking lever affixed on the said vibrating arm' (Z).

Z) is a 'short vibrating arm connecting the cutter with the rocking lever. The short arm of the said lever is attached to the serrated blade c, its other end being pivoted to the standard O behind the guide Y.

d is a stationary arm fastened to the cutter V in the position indicated in Fig. 1. On the end of the said arm is a friction roller e. Said roller is in contact with the inclined plane or track f.

The endless apron roller (L) is connected to the lower feed roller (J) by a band g from which it receives motion. On the left hand side of the machine is a cam button 7L, so secured to the block I as to be easily turned around.

The operation of the above described machine is as follows: The feed is introduced into the trough in the usual way, and the compressing board, which can be weighted if necessary, allowed to rest on it. The operator then depresses the cutter, which, in descending, is moved forward by means of the stationary arm being guided down the inclined track, at the same time the short arm Z) attached to the rocking lever puts in motion the serrated blade, the said blade having a reciprocal and simultaneous move# ment with the blade of the cutter. The feed rollers are put in motion thus: On the descent of the cutter t-he long vibrating lever (R) falls and the pawl O takes into the ratchet wheel at such intervals as are regu-V lated by the cam button, which of course adjusts the length of the feed. The ypawl Q is for the purpose of preventing the feed roller from turning back. The pressure of the springs K to which the upper roller is secured, as explained, enables it to receive motion from the lower one when the feed passes between them as it is carried forward on the endless apron. The teeth of the serrated blade holds the feed While being cut.

and inclined track f, combined and operat- Having fully described the nature, coning as herein specified and for the purpose set forth. struction, and operation of my improve- COTTON FOSS. 5 ment, what I claim therein as new and de- Witnesses:

sire to secure by Letters Patent, is- J. F. SINGLE,

The stationary arm d, friction roller e, H. STEELE, Jr. 

